Alleged drunken driver hits police car in Ukiah

A Ukiah man was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly running stop signs and hitting a police vehicle during a pursuit, the Ukiah Police Department reported.

According to the UPD, at 8:15 a.m. Jan. 22 a caller reported a reckless vehicle was swerving and running stop signs in Ukiah. Officers located the vehicle at the intersection of Gobbi Street and South State Street and attempted to pull it over.

The vehicle reportedly slowed but did not stop, then ran the stop sign at Main Street and entered the crosswalk before stopping at Waugh Lane. While ignoring the officers' lights and sirens, the driver continued over Highway 101 and attempted to turn into the trailer park at 700 East Gobbi Street.

Making too wide a turn, the driver stopped before hitting bushes and signs at the entrance and officers stopped their vehicles behind him and ordered him to exit the vehicle. The driver then reportedly backed up his vehicle and hit one of the officer's vehicles, denting it and shattering one of its windows.

The driver, identified as Jose Margarito Mora, 58, of Ukiah, then exited the car in a "very delayed" manner and appeared impaired. Due to the damage to the UPD vehicle, the California Highway Patrol responded and arrested Mora on suspicion of driving under the influence and failing to yield to law enforcement.